Data Architect

About this role

Methods Analytics (MA) is recruiting for a Data Architect to join our team a permanent basis. This role will be mainly remote but require flexibility to travel to client sites, and our offices based in London, Sheffield, and Bristol. What You'll Be Doing as a Data Architect: Advocate the business benefit of data standards, championing and governing those standards across projects and the organisation Demonstrate an overall perspective on business issues and activities, determining patterns, standards, policies, roadmaps and vision statements Make and guide effective decisions, explaining clearly how decisions have been reached and resolving technical disputes across varying levels of complexity and risk Communicate effectively across organisational, technical and political boundaries, making complex technical information accessible for non-technical audiences Design how to expose data from systems (APIs, real-time streams), link data from multiple systems, and deliver modern data services Ensure that risks associated with deployment are adequately understood and documented Design end-to-end data solutions from requirements through implementation, including technical documentation and architecture blueprints Lead complex data migration projects from legacy systems to modern cloud-native platforms Evaluate and recommend appropriate technologies across the modern data stack to meet specific client needs Mentor junior team members and collaborate with data engineers, software engineers, data scientists, and business stakeholders Your Impact: Enable transformative business decisions through robust, scalable data architectures Drive adoption of modern data platforms and AI-enabled analytics solutions Establish technical standards and architectural patterns that ensure quality, security, and maintainability Help cultivate a data-driven culture within client organisations and internally Deliver architectures that seamlessly integrate traditional and modern data systems Requirements You Will Demonstrate: Deep knowledge of the Azure data stack (Azure SQL Server, CosmosDB, Azure Data Factory, Purview, Synapse, Event Hub, Azure Databricks/Fabric) Extensive data modelling experience: both normalised relational models and de-normalised Star Schema/dimensional models Excellent relational database design skills with expertise in diagnosing and optimising performance across SQL Server, PostgreSQL, and cloud databases Proven track record with complex data migration projects (terabyte+ datasets, multiple legacy source systems, structures and unstructured data) Proficiency with Parquet/Delta Lake or other modern data storage formats Experience with streaming architectures using Kafka, Event Hubs, or Kinesis for real-time data processing Knowledge of data architectures supporting AI/ML workloads, including vector databases, feature stores and MLOps pipelines Experience processing and managing unstructured data types (text, images, logs, sensor data) Understanding of Lambda and Kappa architectural patterns and when to apply each You May Also Have: Exposure to high-performing, low latency or large volume data systems Knowledge of and/or experience with Government Digital Service practices across Discovery/Alpha/Beta/Live phases Understanding of vector databases and similarity search for AI applications Experience with Infrastructure as Code and modern DevOps practices Knowledge of how to design and analyse operational logs for data processing, and triage incidents Awareness of advances in AI technologies, data services, and architectural practices Industry specialisation in specific sectors (Engineering, Manufacturing, Healthcare etc.) Public sector or defence experience Experience with modern unified data platforms like Databricks or Microsoft Fabric Understanding of data mesh or data fabric architectural approaches Relevant industry certifications such as TOGAF 9, CDMP (Certified Data Management Professional), or Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ-305) Security Clearance: UKSV (United Kingdom Security Vetting) clearance is required for this role, with Security Check (SC) as the minimum standard, either already held or with a willingness to undergo the process. Some roles/projects may require Developed Vetting (DV) clearance; while not mandatory, a willingness to obtain DV clearance would be beneficial. As part of the onboarding process candidates will be asked to complete a Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS); details of the evidence required to apply may be found on the government website GOV.UK – Government baseline personnel security standard . If you are unable to meet this and any associated criteria, then your employment may be delayed, or rejected. Details of this will be discussed with you at interview. Our Hiring Process At Methods Analytics, we believe in a transparent hiring process. Here's what you can expect: Internal Application Review Initial Phone Screen Technical Interview Collaborative Technical Exercise Final Interview Offer Benefits Working at MA Methods Analytics (MA) exists to improve society by helping people make better decisions with data. Combining passionate people, sector-specific insight, and technical excellence to provide our customers an end-to-end data service. We use a collaborative, creative and user centric approach to data to do good and solve difficult problems. Ensuring that our outputs are transparent, robust, and transformative. We value discussion and debate as part of our approach. We will question assumptions, ambition, and process – but do so with respect and humility. We relish difficult problems, and overcome them with innovation, creativity, and technical freedom to help us design optimum solutions. Ethics, privacy, and quality are at the heart of our work, and we will not sacrifice these for outcomes. We treat data with respect and use it only for the right purpose. Our people are positive, dedicated, and relentless. Data is a va